Knitting machine



' Feb. 11, 1936. A, IED ANN 2,030,697

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet '1 x INVENTOR.alberi' Friedmann \Ax ATTORNEY.

Feb. 11, 1936. A FR.ED-MANN 2,030,697

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

alberf Fm'edmarm Bysgkggxq \ls ATTORNEY.

INYENTUR. Cuber? F'm'edmann m '2 g N \Ls ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 11, 1936 Albert Friedmann,

acorporation or New Yor Wyomissing, Pa., assignor to Louis HirschTextile Machines,

111:0 New York,

Application August 3, 1935, Serial No. 34,491 18 Claims. (Cl. 66-128)relates, in part,-to improvements in such mechanism. Since a descriptionof one form of the device will be sufiicient to demonstrate and discloseall that will be required by those skilled in the art to apply it toother uses, the following drawings and description will be confinedprimarily to a mechanism for producing fabric embodying a novelherringbone split seam which will demonstrate its In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a plan view of a flat knitting machine embodying themechanism of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the machine along the line 22 of Fig. 1viewed as indicated by the arrows and showing the pawl controllingmechanism in neutral position; v

Fig. 3 is a view of a fragment of Fig. 2 showing the upper pawl inoperating condition;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the lower pawl in operating condition;

Fig; 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the loop arrangement of thesplit seam fabric of this invention; i

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a stocking to illustrate someof the parts in which ed, preferably in the away from each other such asplit seam structure may be utilized; and Fig. 7is a'fragmentary view,of the end ofa stop pin showing the stepped faces with which thecarrier rod engages. l

Unlike present day mechanism'the device of this invention employs twoseparate spindles l positioned end to end and preferably,

though not necessarily, close together, as shown in Fig. 1. Each spindleis supported by suitable bearings 3 at either end. Each spindle isthreadsame'direction, as at 4 and 5, both threads having the same degreeof pitch. Upon each spindle is a nut 6 and 1 respectively, with internalthreads engaging respectively with threads 4 and 5 of the spindles.

Obviously, if either spindle is rotated, the corresponding nut will bemoved one way or the other, and, since the two spindles are separate;

the nuts may be caused to approach or move or to move in the samedirection,-or either one may be moved independently of the other byrotating one or both spindles in the manner required to bring about thedesired result.

The rotating means shown (Figs. 1 and 2) consists of a cam 8 on the maincam shaft 9 with which engages a roller l0 mounted upon an arm II whichis pivoted to a suitable fixed bracket l2. A lever l3 pivotedintermediate its ends as at M is pivotally connected at one end I5 toarm I I by rod I6. Adjacent the other. end'of lever I3 is providedpivotal bearings l'l for two pairs of pawls l6 and I1, l8 and I9. Uponthe inner end of spindle I are mounted two ratchet wheels 20 and 2|, theteeth teeth of the other and engageable respectively by pawls l6 and l1.

Similar ratchet wheels 22 and 23 having similarly opposed teeth aresimilarly mounted on the inner end of spindle 2 so as to be engageableby the other pair of pawls l8 and I 9. Forthe pur-' pose of thisdescription it will be assumed that the teeth of ratchet wheels 20 and22 face in one direction and that ratchets 2| and 23 face in the otherdirection. Pawls l8 and I9 are maintained in position by stops 24 and 25threaded through lugs 24 and 25 and engaging with lever 26 pivoted uponpawl bearing l1 against which the stops are held by a spring 21. Lever26 is supported upon and guided by guide plate 26 rigidly attached toany suitable stationary part of the machine so that it moves in asubstantially straight line and does not dip when the pawls are rocked.To render pawl l9 inoperative it may be swung downwardly so that it willnot engage of one being opposed to the with ratchet 23. Similarly pawll8 may be swung upwardly so that it will clear ratchet 22. By swingingboth pawls, as above described, both may be rendered inoperative. Thus,by manipulating the pawls, the spindle may be rotated in eitherdirection or may be insulated from the action of the pawls.

Pawls l8 and I1 may be similarly controlled so that spindle I also maybe rotated in the desired direction or maintained idle throughmanipulation of the pawls as above described.

Means for thus manipulating pawls l8 and |9 is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and4. It consists of a cam plate 28 rotatably mounted upon spindle 2between ratchets 22 and 23. Adjacent the tip of each pawl is an inwardlyextending pin 29 and 38. These pins are engageable with cam plate '28when the pawls are rocked forward as the'result of the rocking of lever|3. Upon cam disk 28 are two surfaces 3| and 32- so positioned withrespect to each other that pin 29 of pawl l8 will engage with surface 3|simultaneously with i the engagement of pin 38 of pawl I9 with surface32. Surfaces 3| and 32 are of sufficient height so that, when the pawlsare rocked forward, both pawls will be lifted sufficiently to preventthem from engaging with the teeth of their respective ratchets (see Fig.2). Consequently,'as long as the cam disk is in the position abovedescribed spindle 2 will not be rotated.

To rotate spindle 2 in clockwise. direction cam disk 28 is rotatedcounter-clockwise until surface 33 has assumed the position originallyoccupied by surface 3|. Surface 33 is sufficiently low'as compared withsurface 3| so that when the pawls are rocked forward pawl |8 can engagewith its ratchet 22 (see Fig. 3). High surface 32 of cam disk 28 is ofsuflicient extent that when the cam disk is rotated as above described,to make pawl I8 operative, pawl I9 is still maintained out of engagingposition with respect to its ratchet 23.

A further counter-clockwise rotation of cam disk 28 will bring anotherhigh lift 34 into the position originally occupied by high lift 3| sothat pawl 8 will again be disengaged from its ratchet (see Fig. 4). Thisrotation will also bring a low portion 35 of cam disk 28 into theposition originally occupied by high lift 32 so that pawl I9 is now ableto engage with its ratchet 23 to rotate spindle 2 in counter-clockwisedirection.

Pawls l8 and I! are similarly controlled by a similar cam disk 38engageable with pin 31 on pawl l8 and a similar pin on pawl I1, to liftone or the other or both out of operating position.

In order that the operation of one spindle may be entirely independentfrom that of. the other cam disks 28 and 38 each has its separatecontrol mechanism as shown in Fig. '1. That which controls the operationof cam disk 28 consists of a rod 39 pivotally connected to cam disk 28and extending downwardly to arm 48 of rock lever 4|, the other arm ofwhich is connected to another rod 43 extending in a generally horizontaldirection through a bearing 44 in which it is slidable and terminateswithin the line of travel of acam piece 45 upon another slidable rod 48.Rod 48 is connected to arm 41 of a rock lever 48 by means of aconnecting rod 49. The other arm 58 of rock lever 48 rests in the pathof arow of buttons on pattern chain 52. When arm 58 of rock lever 48 isnot in contact with a pattern chain button, cam disk 28 is in theposition described above and are shielded from the action of their pawls|-8 end of rod 43 with the result that cam disk 28 will be furtherrotated to bring it into the position in which it will permit pawl l9 toengage with its ratchet 23 as heretofore described and as shown in Fig.4.

The other cam disk 38 which controls the operation of pawls l6 and I! ina similar manner is operated by a similar linkage consisting of a rodsimilar to rod 39, a rock lever similar to rock lever 4|, rod 51, campiece 58 upon rod 59 and rock lever 58, arm 8| of which lies in the pathof another row of buttonson pattern chain 52.

Thus in spite of the fact that all of the pawls are mounted upon acommon rock lever oper-' ated from a single cam it is possible, throughthe medium of the pattern chain, to so control each pair of pawls so asto rotate spindles and 2 simultaneously in the same direction and to thesame, or different amounts, to rotate both spindles simultaneously inopposite directions, to rotate either one in either direction withoutrotating the other or to maintain both spindles in a given state as longas desired. All of these movements can, obviously, be properlysynchronized so that the shifting of the pawls will not conflict withthe rocking of lever l3 and so that the desired rotation of spindles and2 will occur at the desired time in the knitting cycle;

The pawls and their rocking motion maybe thrown completely out of actionas, for example, when plain knitting is being doneor other work in whichthe above described mechanism is not required. To make this possible camroller I8 is slidably mounted upon its shaft and a forked shifting lever98 is engaged therewith (see Fig. 2) Shifting lever 98 is attached to arod 91 which is in turn connected, through connecting rod 98, to onearmof a rock lever 99, the other arm I88 of which lies in the path ofanother row of buttons "II on pattern chain 52. By this mechanism camroller |8 normally rides upon circular idling cam 83but will be shiftedonto working cam 8 at any desired time by the passage of a suitablyplaced button |8| on pattern chain 52 The carrier rod control mechanismdisclosed also includes a pair of blocks 83 and 84 mounted upon nuts 8and 1 respectively, (Figs. 1 and 2), and each provided with a set ofadjustable stop pins, one stop pin of each set being adapted to engagewith stops upon a different one of the carrier rods to control thetraverse of the rods,

' 81 are numbered 1.4, l1; l5, 18and 18, 19 reshown in Fig. 2, in whichboth ratchets 22 and 23 spectively.

The face of each stop pin which engages with the corresponding carrierrod stop is. stepped as shown at8|l and 8| in Fig. 2, and each stop pinis slidable in its block 63 or so that either face 80 or face 8| maygageable with the corresponding carrier rod stop. When a stop pin isdown face 80 is inoperative position and the travel .of thecarrier rodafengaging position and the rod will be increased to the extentof thedepth of the step between faces 86 and 8|, say two fected will beterminated when a carrier rod stop engages with it. When a stop pin islifted-face 8| be moved into engaging position and the travel of thecarrier rod affected will be terminated when a carrier rod stop engageswith it. When a stop pin is lifted, face 8| travel of the carrierneedles. 7 i

.Mechanism for manipulating the stop pins is also shown in Figs. 1 and2. It consists of stop pin lifter rods 82 and 83, each mountedupon arms84, attached to rock shafts 85 and 86 reup or down position,

spectively. and 64 respectively. vided with a rod 81 terminating in ahook 88 which can be hooked over lifter rod 82 and each of stop pins1|-13 is provided with a similar hooked rod 81 for attachment to lifterrod'83 so that any of the stop pins maybe engagedor disengaged at. will.

with a spring 89 by which it is urged downward- 1y. Rock shafts 85 and86 are each provided with a rock lever 96 engaging with the periphery ofcam disks 28' and 36 respectively, as shown in lying above stop blocks63 and Fig. 2.

In addition to the cam surfaces already described for controlling theoperation of pawls |6- |8 each of cam disks 28 and 36 is provided withanother high lift 9| positioned so as to rock lever 86 forward when thedisk is in position to prevent both pawls'from operating their ratchetsas already described and shown is Fig. 2. Such rocking of rock' lever 90will raise such of the stop pins as are connected to lifter rod 82 or 83to bring faces 8|;int'o operating position. At

other times rock lever 90 rides upon a lower cam surface 82 by which itis rocked backwardto force the stop pins into the position in whichfaces 80 are operative. It will be noted that cam disks 28 and 36 areutilized to operate both the pawls and the stop pins, thus simplifyingthe mechanism and concentrating the ultimate control in two rows ofpattern chain buttons.

From the above it will be evident that since the spindles and 2 may beoperated independently or in unison to move either nuts 6 and 1 ineither direction to any extent at any time and that any of the stop pinson block 63 may be moved into independently of the pins on blocks 64 thedevice is adaptable for numerous operations. reversely threaded spindlein common use are whollyovercomeand' a much wider field of usefulnessopened up. a

As already stated, the particular type of work selected for illustratingthe capabilities of the invention is that embodying the so calledhen'ingbone split seams to join the three sections of a foot Theherringbone split is one in which each cept when narrowing be positionedso as to be en- 1 the appearance of will *bemoved into 6 Each of stoppins 6816 is pro- Also each stop pin is provided The limitations of theunitary' or widening) but each section of each course is dovetailed orinterlocked at the suture with the adjacent section of the next course.

The herringbone split is superior to the lap split because of thisabsence of overlapped loops which create undesirably heavy seams and marthe fabric. However, in the past it has been impossible to make aperfect herringbone split because the mechanism available was not ableto produce which widening or narrowing were'required a perfect interlockbetween the sections. At these points unsightly'eyelets were formed andwith some mechanisms even a dropped stitch; In consequence, when theherringbone type of split has been employed at all it has been combinedwith the lap split and resulted on a hybrid having the undesirablequalities of the lap split and largely lacking the good features of theherringbone split. .By this invention a herringbone split seam may bemade without. any overlapping of sections with the exception of twoloops in two courses where the midsection is widened or narrowed, anarea so small as to be unnoticeable. The'construction referred to isshown in Fig. understood best by following the the thread carriers inknitting it. The description will start with the laying of course I ofFig. 5 which is laid from left to right. Carrier rod 65 will .operateupon the midsection of the fabric, carrier rod-66 upon the right solesection and carrier rod 61 upon the left sole section. The three threadcarriers start therefore at the left. Midsection carrier rod stop 14rests against stop pin 66. Stop carrier rod 66 is in contact with stoppin 12 and left sole section carrier rod 61 rests against its left endstop 13. Camdisks 28 and 36 are in the position to prevent rotation ofspindles and 2 and the stop pins are down with faces 88- in operativeposition.

When these rods are driven to the right rod 61 will lay the thread forneedle loops A-B, at which point it will be arrested by the engagementof. its stop 16 with stop pin 10. Simultaneously midsection rod 65 willlay its thread for loops C--D at which point it will be arrested by the.engagement of its stop 11 with stop pin 1| and right sole section rodwill lay its thread for loops E-F coming to rest against its right endstop. Thereupon the loops are formed in the usual manner.

operation of It will be observed that as yet there is no conboth nuts 6and 1 two needles to the right. Then the friction rod is caused to moveagain slightly to the right (this motion being caused by a suitablypositioned lift on the couliercam, for example) with the result that,left sole section rod 61 and midsection rod 65 will move over to theright an additional two needles from B to G and D to H respectively.Right sole section rod 66 rests against end stop so that it does notmove. The starting position of rods 65 and 61 for the next course II istherefore two needles to the right of the stopping points in course I.

The traverse of the three rods to lay the threads for course II will befrom right to left. Since the stop pins have been moved to the right bytwo needles the traverse of right sole section rod at the pointsv at 18on right sole strip 5 and can be i cam disk- 28 and stop pin 12 liftedto permit a two loop overlap between the right sole section 66 andmidsection rod 65 will terminate two needles to the right of theirstopping point in course one or at points or at I and J respectively.Left sole section rod 61 will be stopped at A by its left end stop.

After the loops are completed spindles i and 2 are again rotated to movethe stop pins to the left a distance of two needles and carrier rods 66and 65 are carried to'move two additional needs to the left to positionsE and C so that the starting position of the carriers of rods 65 and 66for course III is two needles to the left of the points at which theystopped in laying the threads for course II. Carrier rod 61 starts, ofcourse, from its end stop 93 at which its previous traverse terminated.v

The manner of laying course III repeats that of course I and is followedas above described, by a shift of the stop pins and carriers 61 and 65two needles to the right before the beginning of coursaIVis laid and thecarriers subsequently shifted to the left in the way described withrespect to course two. By thus shifting the junction points ofthemidsection and sole sections alternately to the right and left two loopsof one course of the midsection are positioned between two loops of theimmediately preceding and following courses of a sole section or viceversa so that, as the courses are knit, the sections are securely loopedtogether. V

The method above describedmay be continued until it becomes necessary towiden or narrow the midsection. Assume that the midsection is to bewidened by two needles on each side and that course IV has just beencompleted and the carrier rods 55 and 66 shifted an additional twoneedles to the left to the starting point for course V (laidfrom leftto'right). While this course is being laid cam disk 36 is operated torender spindle l inoperative. However, stop pin 69 is thereby lifted tobring face 8| into operative position so that left sole section rod 61can move to the right two additional needles producing a two loopoverlap between the left sole section and the midsection in course V.

In course. VI the procedure followed in course V is reversedpspindle 2,-being kept stationary by and themidseption, is returned to normaloperation so that two needle overlap occurs at the left suture also.Spindle I now isreturned tonormal operation to permit midsection rod tomove outwardly two needles before the beginning of course VII withthe'result that beginning at that course the midsection is two needleswider on the left side. n. the right side there willbe a two needle-overlap ;as shown and also an additional two needle movement givenmidsection rod 55, spindle 2 having been returned to its normaloperating condition. The return of the spindles to normal operationalso-returns stops 68 and 12 to their originat'positions in which faces80 are operative.

I Thawknitting now continues upon the method described for courses I IV,the stop pins being shifted one way and then the other, a distance oftwo needles, in successive courses, until additional widening isrequired. This would be performed inthe same manner as the originalwidening described above. Narrowing of the midsection is accomplishedin-.an equivalent manner, the only difference being that; additionaltraverse is given to the midsection carrier rod 65 in the transitionalcourses instead of to'the two solesectionrods 6,6 and 61. For example,in course X of Fig. which is laid from right to left, spindle 2 has beenoperated in the normal way after the course is laid to permit right solesection carrier rod 66 to move over to the left two needles beforestarting, upon course XI. Spindle I, however, has been renderedinoperative and stop pin 68 lifted in consequence so that the traverseof midsection carrier rod 65 terminates two needles further to the rightthan usual and a two loop overlap is produced at the left suture. Incourse XI this two loop overlap is, of course, repeated and a similartwo loop overlap produced at the right suture as the result ofmaintaining spindle 2 idle and lifting stop pin II.

In course XII the overlap in the right suture is repeated but at theleft suture the regular herringbone split structure is resumed, spindlel havingbeen thrown into normal operation again before the laying of thecourse to move the left sole section rod 61 and midsection rod 65- twoneedles inwardly instead of outwardly as when widening.

In course E1 the right suture also returns to normal since spindle 2 hasbeen returned to nor- 'mal operation before the laying'of that course.

leg or foot, for plating or the making of overlaid designs ofsymmetrical or unsymmetrical pattern, all of which uses arediagrammatically indicated in Fig. 6.

An advantage possessed by this invention not heretofore mentioned andwhich is also derived from the use of two separate spindles is that theshock which results from the striking of a carrier rod stop against astop pin is confined to.

one stop block and its spindle and is not imparted to the other stopblock 'or to any carrier rod which may be engaged with a stop thereof.This and the other advantages mentioned are obtained without sacrificingcompactness and; convenience of operation. The parts may all beconcentrated at a single point on the machine and their operationobserved as a unit. This, as all those skilled in the art are aware, isan important consideration. I

* I claim:

1. In a flat knitting machine having a plurality of longitudinallyreciprocable carrier rods,

means for arresting the traverse of the carrier rods at an intermediatepoint which consists of a pair of threaded, independently rotatable,spindles, a nut upon each spindle provided with in-' dividual stops foreach rod and movable longitudinally thereof upon rotation thereof, steps'65 for rotating upon each carrier rod engageable with the related stopupon each nut, means each spindle in either direction, means forrendering said rotating means operative and inoperative upon the otherand means for operating said last mentioned means in timed relation tothe knitting.

cycle.

either spindle independently of- 2. In a fiat knitting machine having aplurality'of longitudinally reciprocable carrier rods, means forarresting the traverse of the carrier 15 ity 35 dles, a nut upon 70means for arresting the 7 nally, thereof rods at an intermediate pointwhich consists of a pair of threaded, independently rotatable spindles,a nut upon each spindle provided with individual stops for each rod andmovable longi- 5 tudinally thereof upon rotation thereof, stops uponeach carrier rod engageable with the related stop upon, each nut, meansfor rotating each spindle in either direction, separate means associatedwith each spindle for-rendering said '10 rotating means operative andinoperative upon that spindle independently of the other and means foroperating said last mentioned means in timed relation to the knittingcycle.

3. In a flat knitting machine having a pluralof longitudinallyreciprocable carrier rods, means rods at an intermediate point whichconsists of a pair of threaded, independently rotatable, spindles, a nutupon each spindle provided with in-' 20 dividual stops for each rod andmovable longitudinally thereof upon rotation thereof, stops upon eachcarrier rod engageable with the related stop upon each nut, means forrotating each spindle in either direction, individual means 25associated with each spindle for rendering said rotating means operativeand inoperative upon that spindle independently of the otherand'individual means for operating each of said last mentioned meansindependently of the other,

4. In a flat knitting machine having a plurality of longitudinallyreciprocable carrier rods, means for arresting the traverse of thecarrier rods at an intermediate point which consists of a pair ofthreaded, independently rotatable, spineach spindle provided withindividual stops for each rod and movable longitudinally thereof uponrotation thereof, stops upon each carrier rod engageable ith the rewiththe rotating means for each spindle for rendering said rotating meansoperative and inoperative upon that spindle and means for operating each45 other.

5. A flat knitting machine according to claim 4, in which the cam diskoperating means includes a pattern chain.

dles, a nut upon each spindle provided with in- 55. dividual stopsforeachfrod and movable longitudinally thereof upon rotation thereof, .eachof said stops being provided with a plurality of faces in steppedrelation and being adjustable so that each stop is movable into and outof rod engaging position, stops upon each rod engageable with therelated stop upon each nut, means for rotating each spindle in eitherdirection, meansfor rendering said rotating means operative andinoperative upon either spindle inde 5 'pendently of the other and forsimultaneously shifting the operative thecorresponding nut.

7. :In a flat knitting machine having a plurality of longitudinallyreciprocable carrier rods, traverse of the carrier rods at anintermediate point which consists of a pair of threaded, independentlyrotatable spindles, a nut upon each spindle provided with individualstops for each rod and movable longitudiupon rotation thereof, stopsupon faces of the stops upon cam disk independently of the.

ftting machine having a plural- 50 ity of longitudinally reciprocablecarrier rods,

each carrier rod engageable with the related stop upon each nut,individualmeans for rotating each spindle in either direction, a commonactuating means for all the individual spindle rotating means, means forrendering each of said individual spindle rotating means operativeand'inoperative independently of the other and means for. operating saidlast mentioned means in timed relation to the knitting cycle.

8. A flat knitting machine according to claim 1 in which the spindlerotating means includes two ratchet wheels upon each spindle, the teethof one of which are opposed to the teeth of the other, a pawl for eachratchet wheel and a common means for rocking all of the pawlssimultaneously.

9. In a fiat knitting machine having a plurality of longitudinallyreciprocable carrier rods, means for arresting the traverse of thecarrier rods at an intermediate point which consists of a pair ofthreaded rotatable spindles means for rotating each spindle, a nut uponeach spindle, a stop upon each nut, a pair of stops upon one carrier rodengageable with said stops upon said nuts to arrest the traverse of thecarrier rod at an intermediate point in both directions, a second stopupon one of said nuts engageable with a stop upon a second carrier rodto arrest its traverse in one direction at an intermediate point and asecond stop upon the other nut engageable with a stop upon a thirdcarrier rod to arrest the traverse of that rod in the opposite directionat an intermediate point, each of said stops upon said nuts havingaplurality of faces in stepped relation and being adjustable to bringany face into carrier rod, engaging position whereby the length of thetraverse of each carrier rod may be varied without altering the positionof either nut and means for adjusting said stops upon said nut.

10. A fiat machine according to claim 9 ity of longitudinallyreciprocable can'ler rods,

means for arresting the traverse of the carrier rods at an intermediatepoint which consists of a pair of threaded rotatable spindles, means forrotating each spindle, a nut upon each spindle, a stop upon each nut, apair of stops upon one carrier rod engageable with said stops upon saidnut to arrest the traverse of the carrier rod at an intermediate pointin both directions, a second stop upon one of said nuts engageable withastop upon a second carrier rod to arrest its traverse in one directionat an intermediate point and a second stop upon the other nut engageablewith a stop upon a third carrier rod to arrest the traverse 'of that rodin the other direction at an intermediate point, each of said stops uponsaid nutshaving a. plurality relation and being adjustable to bring any.face into rod engaging position traverse of each rod may be variedwithout altering the position of either nut fiusting said stops uponsaid nut, means for rendering said spindle rotating means operative andinoperative upon either spindle independently of the other andindividual means for timing the operation of said last mentioned meansupon each spindle.

12. In a flat knitting machine having a plurality of longitudinallyreciprocable carrier rods, means for arresting the traverse of thecarrier of faces in stepped and means for ad- I whereby the length ofrods at an intermediate point which consists of a pair of threaded,independently rotatable, spindles, a nut upon each spindle provided withA individual stops for each rod and movable longitudinally thereof uponrotation thereof, a stop upon each carrier rod engageable with therelated stop upon a nut, means for rotating-each spindle in eitherdirection, means for rendering said rotating means operative andinoperative upon either spindle independently of the other,

,and means for operating said last mentioned upon each carrier rodengageable with the rev lated stop uponga nut, means for rotating eachspindle in either direction, separate means associated with each spindlefor rendering said rotating means operative and inoperative upon thatspindle independently of the other, and means for operating said lastmentioned means in timed relation to the knitting cycle.

14. In a flat knitting machine having a plurality of longitudinallyreciprocable carrier rods, means for arresting the traverse of thecarrier rods at an intermediate point which consists of a pair ofthreaded, independently rotatable, spindles, a nut upon each spindleprovided with individual stops for each rod and movable longi tudinallythereof upon rotation thereof, a stop upon each carrier rod engageablewith the related stop upon a nut, means for rotating each spindle ineither direction, individual means associated with each spindle forrendering said rotating means operative and inoperative upon thatspindle independently of the other and individual means for operatingeach of said last mentioned means independently of the other.

15. In a flat knitting machine having a plurality of longitudinallyreciprocable carrier rods,

means for arresting the traverse of the carrier rods at an intermediatepoint which consistspf a pair of threaded, independently rotatable,spindles, a.nut upon each spindle provided with individual stops foreach rod and movable longitudinally thereof upon rotation thereof, astop upon each carrier rod engageable with the related stop upon a. nut,means for rotating each spindle in either direction, a cam diskassociated with the rotating means for each spindle for rendering saidrotating means operative and inoperative upon that spindle, and meansfor operating each cam disk independently of the other.

16. A flat knitting machine according to claim 15 in which the cam diskoperating means includes a pattern chain.

17. In a flat knitting machine having a plurality of longitudinallyreciprocable carrier rods, means for arresting the traverse of thecarrier rods at an intermediate point which consists of a pair ofthreaded, independently rotatable spindles, a nut upon each spindleprovided with individual stops for each rod and movable longitudinallythereof upon rotation thereof, each of said stops being provided with aplurality of faces in stepped relation and being adjustable so that eachstep is movable into and out of rod engaging position, a stop upon eachrod engageable with the related stop upon a nut, means for rotating eachspindle in either direction, means for rendering said rotating meansoperative and inoperative upon either spindle independently of the otherand for simultaneously shifting the operative faces of the stops uponthe corresponding nut.

18. A flat knitting machine according to claim 12 in which the spindlerotating means includes two ratchet wheels upon each spindle, the teethof one of which are opposed to the teeth of the other, a pawl for eachratchet wheel and a common means for rocking all of the pawlssimultaneously.

ALBERT FRIEDMAN N

